Ballet is back to full staff

NEW BLOOD -- The Augusta Ballet has added four new members to its administrative staff, filling the void created by the departure in September of former administrator Meredith Head.

Some of her responsibilities have been divided among new positions, said Zanne Colton, artistic director of the ballet.

Former ballet board president Susan Nicholson is the ballet's new development director; ballet guild member Kathy Marks is heading up marketing; and Patty Ann Smith has come onboard as educational outreach conductor and box office manager. A new office manager, Kathie Saul, has also been hired.

"This has been a huge year of transition," Ms. Colton said. "The ballet's really going to take off administratively. We're up and running."

BOOK CONTRIBUTOR -- Augustan Lillian Carter has contributed to When the Banks Closed, We Opened Our Hearts, a book recalling the Great Depression, published by nostalgia magazine Reminisce.

Mrs. Carter recounts her days as a member of the National Youth Administration in Bamberg, S.C.

"When I started in 1935, my pay was $11 a month. It later rose to $16. I was allowed to keep my money, as long as I shared it with my sisters. For instance, if I bought a new dress for myself, I had to buy dresses for my sisters the following month," she wrote.

The 164-page, hardcover book is $19.99 and is available by calling (800) 558-1013.

ART AROUND TOWN -- The Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art has helped the following artists place their work around town:

-- Emily Shipe's portraits in pastels and acrylic are on display at the offices of Dr. Scott Balogh and Dr. Gayle Rozantine, 3740 Walton Way Extension.

-- Watercolor paintings by Frank Carstarphan can be viewed at the Evans Government Complex, 630 Washington West Road.

-- Joyce Girgenti's oil paintings can be seen at University Hospital Professional Office Building II, 818 St. Sebastian Way.

MILLENNIUM MUSIC -- The Augusta Opera, Augusta Symphony and Morris Museum of Art are working on a New Year's Eve concert and breakfast in conjunction with The Augusta Chronicle's Celebrate 2000 downtown bash.

The two music organizations are talking about performing a pops concert together Dec. 31 at the Imperial Theatre, which would conclude in time for the city's annual fireworks show, followed by an early morning champagne breakfast at the museum.

Stay tuned.

Kent Kimes covers arts and entertainment for The Augusta Chronicle. He can be reached at (706) 823-3626 or feature@augustachronicle.com.